Pop-gun.



C. F. LEFEVER.

POP GUN. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1916.

1 ,2%Q,99Q, PatefitedSepf. 25, 1917.

CHARLES IE. LEFEVER, 0F PLYMOUTH,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 DAISY MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF PLYMOUTH,MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

POP-GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

Application filed September 18, 1916. Serial No. 120,763.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. LEFnvER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Plymouth, in the county of \Vayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pop-Guns,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to guns of that type in which a report is producedby the pneumatic rupturing of paper or other thin diaphragm. It is theprimary object of the invention to obtain an automatic construction orrepeater, with which a succession of shots may be fired withoutreadjustment. It is a further object to accomplish the entire functionthrough the actuation of the trigger. Vith these objects in view theinvention comprises the novel construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a piston embodying my invention, theoutside casing being in longitudinal. section;

Fig. '2 is a longitudinal section showing the paper-rupturing mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the paper feed mechanism;

Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the outer casing removed; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line aa-w Fig. 1.

While my improvements are applicable to various types of gun, I haveillustrated the same in connection with a pistol, in which A is a framepreferably formed of pressed sheet-metal and upon which all of theoperating mechanism is mounted. This frame is adapted for insertion inan outer casing B,

also preferably formed .of pressed sheet- -metal and inclosing all ofthe mechanism with the-exception of the projecting trigger.

C is a barrel mounted on the forward end of the frame and providing aseat D for re- ;ceiving the paper and having a central aperture D forthe discharge of the ruptured section. is a cylinder in which the air iscompressed, said cylinder and seat D being relatively movable, andtogether constituting paper in one position of adjustment. -Either ofthe members may be actuated to effect the clamping and unclamping of thepaper,,-but as shown the cylinder is the vmovable member and is actuatedthrough the medium of the piston F therein. Thus. the cylinder E isslidably mounted on the frame A by suitable means, such as the bentflanges G G on said frame embracing the cylinder. Movement is alsolimited by a stop G at the rear end of the cylinder, while forwardmovement is limited by the seat D. The friction of the piston F issufiicient to actuate the cylinder and thus each rearward stroke of thepiston will retract the cylinder from the seat D, unclamping the paper;while each forward stroke 'will press the cylinder against the, seat toeffect the clamping.

As each time the gun is fired, a section of the paper is ruptured, it isnecessary to feed a new section of paper across the scat D before eachshot. This is automatically accomplished by a feeding mechanism which isactuated by the trigger, the specific construction shown being asfollows: H is a trigger pivotally mounted at I upon the frame andprojecting downward therefrom and outward through the inclosing casingB. Secured to this trigger is a pawl J, which operatively engages aratchet wheel K upon a feed wheel L. The latter is provided with afacing of rubber orother material having a high coeflicient of frictionand bears against the paper strip, which is held in engagement therewithby a flange M preferably struck up from the frame A. A dog N, preferablyintegral with the pawl J, normally bears against the periphery of thewheel L and holds the same from movement, but upon the actuation of thetrigger, this dog releases the wheel and subsequently the pawl Jactuates the ratchet wheel K to rotate the wheel and feed the paperstrip. Suflicient lost motion is provided between the pawl and theratchet wheel to permit an initial movement of the trigger, whichthrough the mechanism about to be de scribed retracts the cylinder E,unclamping the paper on the seat D. Thus, by using a continuous paperstrip, which may be fed from a roll 0 mounted on the frame, preferablyin the handle portion thereof, a new section of paper may be registeredwith the seat upon each actuation of the trigger.

To produce the report, there must be a quick compression of air to ahigh enough pressure for rupturing the paper. This compression ispreferably accomplished by a spring actuation of the piston F, thespring tract the being Compressed by the operation of the trigger andfinally released to perform its function. As shown, the piston F 1sprovidedwith an operating shank P, which is guided by engagement with aflange A on the frame A, and is also provided with a hooked portion Pfor engagement withthe sear. The sear Q is in the form of a pawlpivotally attached to the trigger H and is so arranged that when saidtrigger is retracted, said pawl will engage with the hook P, forcing theshank P backward along the guide A, thereby withdrawing the cylinder Efrom the seat I) and subsequently moving the piston F rearward thecylinder. The sear is released uponthe final movement of the trigger bya trip mechanism, comprising a flange R on the frame engaging a portionof the sear and deflecting it lateraly, so as to withdraw its engagementwith the hook P. Sis a spring for actuating the piston in a forwarddirection, said spring being secured to the frame and bearing againstthe rear end of the shank P. There is also a spring T for yieldablyholding the sear in engagement with the hook P and asp'ring U forholding the pawl J in engagement with the ratchet wheel K.

In operation the paper from the roll 0 is drawn around suitable guidesto the seat D and across the latter to the feed roll L. When thusarranged, each time the trigger is pulled the initial movement thereof,op erating through the sear Q and shank P will retract the cylinder E,releasing the clamping action. A further movement of the trigger willengage the pawl J with the ratchet wheel K and'will rotate said wheel tofeed the paper strip, withdrawing section from the seat forate sectionacross the-same. At the same time? the movement of the trigger willrepiston F, thereby compressing the spring S. Finally the engagement ofthe portion Q of the sear with the flange R will trip or release thesear, permitting the stored power in the spring S to quickly force thepiston F forward. The initial for ward movement of the piston willfrictionally actuate the cylinder to clamp the same against the seat 'D,and Y the succeeding movement of the piston will develop a highpneumatic pressure sufficient to rupture the paper and to eject the tornsection thereof throughthe aperture D. It will be understood that thisoperation may be repeated the ruptured as often and as fast as thetrigger can be actuated. while the used-end of the paper strip will befed downward and may be torn off from time to time. 4

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the trigger I-Iand the pawl or sear Q togetherconstitute a toggle lever, which in the normal position of the triggeris in bent or angular relation.

.- When the trigger is pulled this toggle will and moving an imper- Thiswill compensate for the increased tension of the spring, as the pistonis retracted I and will diminish the power required to actuate thetrigger in the final portion of its movement.

As has been stated, all of the mechanism is mounted upon the frame A,which is insertible in the outer casing B. For convenience in assembly,this outer casing is formed open at the rear end and the opening isclosed by a rear wall secured to the frame A. As shown, the rear Wall isformed of a member V of U-shaped cross section,v the flanges of the Ufitting inside of the side flanges of the casing B. A headed brace pin Wreinforces this U shaped member, and the casing B is cut away at B -'toreceive this headed pin. Thus, to disengage the casing the headedpinwill be grasped and the frame withdrawn.

What I- claim as my; invention is:

1. In a gun of the character described,

the combination of a seat for the paper strip, clamping means, astrip-feeding roll, a trigger, a pawl actuated by the trigger forrotating saidroll, an air compression cylinder, a piston therein, apiston shank for actuating the same, a pawl operated by the trigger forengaging said shank to retract the same and to constitute the sear, aspring for actuating the piston in'the reverse direction, a trip forreleasing said pawl or sear at the completion of its rearward movement,and means actuated by the trigger for unclamping the paper strips 2. Ina gun, the combination With'a seat for the paper, a paper feeding roll,a trigger, a pawl connected to said trigger for actuating said roll, anair compression-cylinder, a piston therein, a shank for said piston,

a pawl connected to said trigger for engaging said shank to actuate thesame rearward and constituting a sear, a spring for actuating the pistonin the forward direction, a trip for releasing said pawl or sear at thecompletion of the rearward movement of said trigger, and means actuatedby the piston respectivelytin its rearward and forward movement forunclamping and clamp-v ing the strip upon its seat.

3. In a gun of the character described, a frame, a seat for the paperstrip, means for clamping the paper on said seat, an air compressioncylinder, strip feeding means, a trigger, and mechanism actuated by saidtrigger for operating said clamping means, feeding means and aircompressing means, all of said parts being mounted on said frame and adetachable casing for inclosing said parts, said frame being providedwith a U-shaped rear wall, a headed brace pin passing through the sidesof said U- shaped walland said casing beingopenat,

one end and having portions cut-away at the sides thereof at their rearedges for receiving the heads of said brace pin.

4. In a gun, the combination with a trigger, of a spring compressed by amovement of said trigger, and a toggle lever connection between saidtrigger and spring for increasing the power of the leverage as the re-.sistance of the spring increases.

5. In a gun, the combination with a trigger, of an air compressioncylinder, a cooperating piston, a spring for relatively moving saidcylinder and piston to compress the air therein, and a toggle leveractuated by said trigger for compressing the spring, with increasingpower as the resistance increases.

6. In a gun, the combination with the trigger, of an air compressioncylinder and cooperating piston, a spring for relatively moving saidcylinder and piston to compress air, a toggle lever actuated by thetrigger for tensioning the spring with increased power as the resistanceincreases, and a trip for disengaging said toggle at the completion ofthe movement of the trigger to release the stored power of the spring.

7. A pistol, comprising a frame, operating mechanism mounted thereonincluding a trigger for actuating the same, an outer casing includingbarrel and handle open at its rear end to receive said frame and op-Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

erating mechanism, and a rear Wall on said frame for closing saidopening.

8. A pistol, comprising a frame, an operating mechanism mounted thereon,including' a trigger for actuating the same, an outer casing includingbarrel, trigger-guard and handle, said casing being open at the rear toreceive said frame and operating mechanism, and a closure for saidopening secured to said frame.

9. In a gun of the character described, the combination with a seatacross which a paper strip is fed, of feeding means for said strip, arelatively movable cylinder and a relatively movable piston therein,said cylinder and piston cooperating to clamp said strip upon its seat,a trigger, and connecting mechanism for unclamping and feeding saidstrip upon movement of said piston and cylinder in one direction and forre-clamping and compressing air to rupture said strip upon movement ofsaid piston and cylinder in the opposite direction.

10. In a gun, the combination with a trigger, of a spring compressed bya movement of said trigger, and connecting means between said triggerand spring for increasing the power of the leverage as the resistance ofthe spring increases.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES F. LEFEVER.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

